Barbara Sullivan's Blog

FIVE STARS     Addictive Mystery Wrapped Around Quilting January 2, 2015By Edie VINE VOICEFormat:Kindle EditionEmbroidering Andrea continues the quilting bee based stories in the first two novels by Barbara Sullivan. The quilting bee and accompanying mystery theme draws the main character to search deeper into her own life history. The monthly bee brings the now familiar characters together for a night of quilting, but also opens up the door for murder and mayhem.

The husband and wife characters of Rachel and Matthew Lyons are an engaging couple with a relationship that seems true to life. The author shows the couple in a positive light although they can still have their difference of opinion which makes a much more pleasant read than novels that feel the need to have strong conflicts between spouses throughout a story.

The refreshing main characters offset the deep tragic lives of many of the secondary characters. Embroidering Andrea is not an easy read and the topic may be off-putting to some. However, keep reading as the story will draw you in and hold you hostage until the final reveal.

The Quilted Mystery series is well worth checking out. Hopefully the author is hard at work on the next installment.

This review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel provided by the author in exchange for our review.

"Born in 1941 and raised in the then small town of Milford, Connecticut, Barbara Sullivan left the New England area to follow her Marine husband around the country and to travel far and wide before settling down in Southern California. Now a retired librarian, she worked for twenty-five years in the profession before stepping away to begin her writing career. 

Her first work in the Quilted Mystery series is Ada Unraveled. In this story Ms. Sullivan introduces her primary characters, Pi Rachel Lyons and her husband/business partner Matt Lyons. This very personal story about a woman named Ada is inspired by the author's difficult childhood and dedicated to her mother Rosalie. Here Barbara Sullivan attempts to unravel the painful emotions she endured as a growing child living in her parents' ofttimes alcoholic nightmare. 

The second book in the Quilted Mystery series steps fully into the Stowall family--the group of hand quilters Rachel Lyons has joined--telling the tale of the youngest hand quilter thirteen-year-old Abigail. The title, Ripping Abigail, is another play on sewing terms as Abigail is ripped from her childhood by the events told in this book. 

The third title in the series, Embroidering Andrea, also contains a play on quilting terms. If you've read the first two of these books you'll have already learned that Andrea Kelly, the subject of this novel, is into tats. But there is much more to learn about this title; a much deeper pain drives Andrea to carry her scars visibly on her body.

A longtime hand quilter, quilting has many meanings to Sullivan. Her earliest memories are patches of visual explosions that sewed themselves into an otherwise normal middle class family. The New England setting for those memories, with its dark and scary tales of witches and headless horsemen, only added to the sense of foreboding the author took with her into adulthood.

Barbara holds degrees in History and Library Science, and a Masters in Public Administration. You can view her quilts and learn more about her life at www.quiltmyst.com. Follow Barbara Sullivan on facebook.com and twitter.com as well."

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, keeps you wondering, March 9, 2014By Gypsy - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: Unraveling Ada (Kindle Edition)I loved the intertwining of the stories and the quilts and all the characters too. Loved the story line and would read it again if I didn't have so many other books waiting for me !!!

4.0 out of 5 stars A puzzle to solve...., April 10, 2014By Mary B. - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: Ada Unraveled, a Quilted Mystery novel (Kindle Edition)Keeps you guessing, lots of twists and turns. Never know what is going to jump out at you, the ending will surprise you.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars, September 8, 2014By Joan Hinterseer - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: Ada Unraveled, a Quilted Mystery novel (Kindle Edition)Another great story from Ms Sullivan.
4.0 out of 5 stars thoughts, September 18, 2014By Betty Vaughn (LAKE WYLIE, SC, US) - See all my reviewsVerified Purchase(What's this?)This review is from: Ada Unraveled, a Quilted Mystery novel (Kindle Edition)like books that enclude my other interest.. Like quilting.. not to heavy.. easy to enjoy.

By Mopete1960,  Amazon.com Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase Wonderful story! Enjoyed it immensely with the characters and their personalities and the scattering lessons of history and gang info and of course the mystery of HE who is our higher power and the beauty and miracles that we are graced with. Loved it. Gotta like a character who can ponder GOD and his glory while getting her gun ready to creep to the rescue!!!!!! ONE thing I missed was the word ripping in the title and what it meant.  Thanks Mopete 1960!

Embroidering Andrea went live on December 5, in Kindle format. The paperback is on the way. This is the description blurb:

"When the members of Quilted Secrets meet for their latest quilting bee in the urban loft of artist Andrea Kelly, the secrets unfurl with the quilt they are stitching and once again, retired librarian-turned-private investigator Rachel Lyons finds herself on a case involving one of her quilting sisters -- a case that takes her into the artsy, boho world of a Southern California gay enclave in search of a missing young woman."

We are really very excited to bring you this third book in the Quilted Mystery series. Rachel Lyons does it again! Find your copy of this new book on amazon.com

Thanks! And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Barbaa Sullivan

Still editing, but getting very close, my team of experts and I are aiming for December to publish this third installment of the Quilted Mystery novels. I know you'll love it. I know you'll want to read it the day after Christmas!

Whatever else you do in your life, have fun!

Another Free Day on Kindle for Ada Unraveled.

Book one of my Quilted Mystery novels will be available for FREE on Kindle July 27th. But why wait? This fascinating mystery/thriller is available now on Kindle for a mere $3.99!

Two of my readers have just given this book 5 stars (out of a possible 5). Visit amazon.com now to read them. http://www.amazon.com/Unraveled-Quilted-Mystery-novel-ebook/dp/B00D538844/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373980889&sr=1-1&keywords=ada+unraveled+in

A Cold Day for Murder (Kate Shugak #1), by DanaStabenow, is a masterful tale ofgenerational conflict, of culture conflict, of the conflict between an aboriginalpeoples and the moderns who are absorbing and erasing them using the agelesschange makers--corruption and greed. But maybe the aboriginals are winning thisone. Certainly with the help of author Dana Stabenow, the moderns are learninga new truth or two about life.
A Cold Day for Murder is a powerful tale of survival on an icy downhillslide. And Dana Stabenow is a brilliant writer filled with the passion of theAleuts. This is her Edgar. You should have read this already. I’m racing backto amazon.com to purchase the rest of her works. I’ve just now found thissplendid writer.
Oh, and yes, it is also anexcellent mystery.

A Cold Day for Murder (Kate Shugak #1), by Dana Stabenow, is a masterful tale of generational conflict, of culture conflict, of the conflict between an aboriginal peoples and the moderns who are absorbing and erasing them using the ageless change makers--corruption and greed. But maybe the aboriginals are winning this one. Certainly with the help of author Dana Stabenow, the moderns are learning a new truth or two about life.
A Cold Day for Murder is a powerful tale of survival on an icy downhill slide. And Dana Stabenow is a brilliant writer filled with the passion of the Aleuts. This is her Edgar. You should have read this already. I’m racing back to amazon.com to purchase the rest of her works. I’ve just now found this splendid writer.
Oh, and yes, it is also an excellent mystery.

FREE on your Kindle! Ada Unraveled, Quilted Mystery novel #1. And so is Ripping Abigail, Quilted Mystery novel # 2...on the same days!



 JUNE 15 and JUNE 29!

Don't miss this opportunity to download Ada Unraveled for your Kindle, for FREE. The first book in the Quilted Mystery series begins Rachel Lyons escapades as she learns the ropes of PI work with hubby Matt Lyons.

Ada Stowall's body has been found...just days after her father-in-law's corpse stopped a group of conservationists dead in their tracks. Rachel's assignment? Solve the mystery of her death using the details sewn into Ada's last quilt, researching the family tree, and sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong.

Pushy? Sure. She's a PI. But it doesn't come naturally for this retired librarian, so sometimes she stumbles. Sometimes she gets lost.

Read this mystery-thriller with a touch of the unbelievable on your Kindle for FREE. June 20.

Also free this day is the second book of the Quilted Mystery series, Ripping Abigail.